"Tch."
Enel swung his golden staff back onto his shoulder, his gaze following the retreating figure of Monkey D. Luffy.
For once, he didn't sneer or snort in mockery.
Instead, he fell silent for a moment. Then, in a tone that sounded almost objective, he muttered:
"That rubber bastard whose thoughts I can't hear… he's got a strange kind of charm about him."
It wasn't strength.
It wasn't speed.
It was something else entirely—something that made people choose to follow him even in the depths of despair.
Something that made a man hold onto his principles even after being betrayed and trampled.
Something difficult to describe.
Gern Reginald Sigmar's gaze was also fixed on Luffy's departing back.
Hearing Enel's comment, the smile on Gern's face deepened—though it carried a far more complicated meaning now.
He nodded lightly.
"Yes… he does."
The boy in the straw hat reminded him of many things.
Back when Gern had only watched events unfold from behind a "screen," seeing Luffy eventually awaken the Nika form had once felt almost absurd to him.
Too idealistic.
Too unrealistic.
But standing here in this era himself… Gern felt like he finally understood, just a little.
Perhaps it was precisely this almost foolish purity—
This unextinguishable childlike heart.
This belief that placed freedom and companions above everything else—
That could transform the impossible into reality.
That could reach the end of destiny itself and make the entire world laugh from the bottom of their hearts.
At the very least, Gern believed one thing with certainty:
Across this entire sea, there would never be another man as absurdly pure as Luffy.
That purity…
Even stirred something faint inside someone like Gern—someone long accustomed to calculation, manipulation, and weighing every advantage like an adult hardened by the world.
A faint touch of emotion.
And perhaps…
A hint of envy.
At that moment, Gern lifted his head and looked up toward the bright sun hanging over Dressrosa.
The sunlight was almost blinding.
Yes.
Blinding.
The "world line" always had a way of correcting itself.
And before he had even realized it…
Gern had been pushed into a very specific position within that current.
"Ha…"
His quiet laughter faded. Gern suddenly took a deep breath.
Then, without raising his voice unnaturally—
Yet loud enough for it to carry clearly across the entire street district and reach the ears of Luffy and every member of the Straw Hat Pirates—
He called out toward Luffy's back.
"Monkey D. Luffy—!!"
His voice echoed through the air.
Luffy's steps paused slightly.
"You want to become the Pirate King! You want the One Piece!"
"If you truly want your dream to succeed—if you truly want to reach the end of the sea…"
Gern paused for a moment.
His eyes locked directly onto Luffy.
"Then defeat me first."
"Defeat Heaven-Shaker Gern Reginald Sigmar!"
"Otherwise… you will never truly reach Laugh Tale!"
Carrying the unconscious Sabo on his back, Luffy slowly came to a stop.
He didn't answer immediately.
He simply stood there quietly.
A few seconds later…
He slowly turned around.
The sunlight shone from behind him, stretching his shadow long across the ground while outlining his figure with a dazzling golden halo.
The brim of Luffy's straw hat was still pressed low, hiding most of his face.
But everyone present could feel the burning intensity of the gaze beneath that shadow.
On either side of him—
Roronoa Zoro slowly placed a hand on the hilt of his sword.
Sanji took a deep drag from his cigarette before crushing it underfoot and straightening his posture.
Nami tightened her grip on her Clima-Tact.
Tony Tony Chopper's eyes hardened with determination.
Brook rested his hand on the hilt of his Soul Solid blade.
The Straw Hat crew, as if sharing a silent understanding, spread out on both sides behind Luffy the moment he turned around.
Luffy slowly raised his head.
From the shadow beneath the brim of his hat, his eyes met Gern's gaze directly.
Then he spoke.
His voice wasn't especially loud.
But every single word rang clearly across the ruined streets of Dressrosa.
"Pirate King…"
"I'm going to become him!!!!!!"
The oath had been spoken.
The path was clear.
...
Watching Luffy and the others depart, Kozuki Momonosuke felt no emotion whatsoever.
If anything, he felt relieved.
That troublesome pirate was finally gone.
He immediately put on a flattering smile and hurried over to Gern's side, looking up at him with exaggerated admiration.
"Lord Heaven-Shaker, did you see that?! That ignorant pirate actually dared to speak such nonsense in front of you!"
"How could he possibly defeat you? It's pure delusion!"
While fawning shamelessly, Momonosuke carefully watched Gern's expression.
Seeing no immediate displeasure, he gathered his courage and asked eagerly:
"So… Lord Heaven-Shaker, when shall we depart for Wano Country?"
"That tyrant Kaido is surely no match for you!"
"If you take action, Wano will definitely be liberated immediately!"
The smile on Gern's face slowly faded.
He lowered his head, looking down at the hopeful child before him.
His eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a thoughtful, probing smile.
"Oh? Going to Wano? Defeating Kaido for you and restoring your position as shogun?"
He deliberately dragged out the words.
"Momonosuke… don't tell me you're planning to treat me the same way you treated the Straw Hats?"
"As your hired muscle?"
"N-No! Absolutely not! How could that be?!" Momonosuke waved his hands frantically, his face turning pale as his voice rose several pitches.
"You are a Marine! The strongest man acknowledged across these seas!"
"The great admiral Heaven-Shaker who protects justice!"
"How could someone like me dare harbor such disrespectful thoughts?!"
"I sincerely seek your help—for the people of Wano!"
He desperately tried to portray himself as a righteous future shogun seeking legitimate assistance for his nation.
Gern's smile deepened.
But there was no warmth in it whatsoever.
He took a step forward.
His tall figure cast an overwhelming pressure that made Momonosuke instinctively step backward.
"Then here's the problem," Gern said calmly.
"I—a Marine admiral—would mobilize the power of the Marines, and perhaps my own strength…"
"To defeat one of the Four Emperors, Kaido…"
"And place you on the throne of Wano as its shogun."
"What," he asked quietly,
"should I receive in return?"
"Uh…"
Momonosuke froze.
His mouth opened, but no words came out.
All he had ever thought about was how to use Gern's strength to achieve his goal.
He had never once seriously considered what the other party might want in return.
In his mind, the identity of "future shogun" and the banner of "legitimate cause" were already the greatest bargaining chips.
Watching him stammer helplessly—wanting everything yet unwilling to offer anything—Gern's eyes flashed with a trace of mockery.
He decided to stop circling the topic.
Instead, he threw out the most crucial—
And most lethal—
Question.
His voice suddenly dropped.
"And besides…"
"Just now, your retainer Kin'emon let something slip in his panic."
"He said: 'How could Lord Oden have a child like you?'"
Gern leaned down slightly.
Their faces were nearly level.
His eyes locked tightly onto Momonosuke's face, which had instantly turned pale with terror.
"Kozuki Oden…"
"He died over twenty years ago."
"If his child were still alive today, that person should already be an adult."
"So tell me, Momonosuke…"
"Who exactly are you?"
"Or perhaps more accurately…"
"What exactly are you?"
"Care to explain?"
"Kozuki Momonosuke."
Gern pronounced the name slowly.
Each syllable carried unmistakable amusement.
Nearby, Kin'emon quietly closed his eyes in pain.
The thing he had feared most…
Had finally happened.
...
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